The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

and accompanied by numerous Yakshas. And the
lord of treasures, possessed of great beauty, came
there to see Arjuna, illuminating the firmament with
his effulgence. And there came also Yama himself,
of great beauty, the powerful destroyer of all the
worlds, accompanied by those lords of the creation—­the
Pitris—­both embodied and disembodied.
And the god of justice, of inconceivable soul, the
son of Surya, the destroyer of all creatures, with
the mace in hand, came there on his car, illuminating
the three worlds with regions of the Guhyakas, the
Gandharvas and the Nagas, like a second Surya as he
riseth at the end of the Yuga. Having arrived
there, they beheld, from the effulgent and variegated
summits of the great mountain, Arjuna engaged in ascetic
austerities. And there came in a moment the illustrious
Sakra also, accompanied by his queen, seated on the
back of (the celestial elephant) Airavata, and surrounded
also by all the deities. And in consequence of
the white umbrella being held over his head, he looked
like the moon amid fleecy clouds. And eulogised
by Gandharvas, and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism,
the chief of the celestials alighted on a particular
summit of the mountain, like a second sun. Then
Yama possessed of great intelligence, and fully conversant
with virtue, who had occupied a summit on the south,
in a voice deep as that of the clouds, said these
auspicious words, ’Arjuna, behold us, the protectors
of the worlds, arrive here! We will grant thee
(spiritual) vision, for thou deservest to behold us.
Thou wert in thy former life a Rishi of immeasurable
soul, known as Nara of great might At the command,
O child, of Brahma, thou hast been born among men!
O sinless one, by thee shall be vanquished in battle
the highly virtuous grandsire of the Kurus—­Bhishma
of great energy—­who is born of the Vasus.
Thou shalt also defeat all the Kshatriyas of fiery
energy commanded by the son of Bharadwaja in battle.
Thou shalt also defeat those Danavas of fierce prowess
that have been born amongst men, and those Danavas
also that are called Nivatakavachas. And, O son
of the Kuru race, O Dhananjaya, thou shalt also slay
Karna of fierce prowess, who is even a portion of
my father Surya, of energy celebrated throughout the
worlds. And, O son of Kunti, smiter of all foes,
thou shalt also slay all the portions of celestials
and Danavas and the Rakshasas that have been incarnate
on earth. And slain by thee, these shall attain
to the regions earned by them according to their acts.
And, O Phalguna, the fame of thy achievements will
last for ever in the world: thou hast gratified
Mahadeva himself in conflict. Thou shalt, with
Vishnu himself, lighten the burden of the earth.
O accept this weapon of mine—­the mace I
wield incapable of being baffled by any body.
With this weapon thou wilt achieve great deeds.’”